Trevor’s pub success defies the sceptics

THEY predicted it wouldn’t survive in a back street on a largely industrial edge of Sheffield city centre but the doubters can raise a glass in a couple of weeks to the Kelham Island Tavern on its tenth anniversary.

Not only has the pub prospered, it has won numerous awards, including twice being voted the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Pub of the Year.

“A lot of people said ‘We’ll give it three months’ and here we are ten years later with all the accolades,” said owner Trevor Wraith, who took the plunge by taking over a derelict pub in Russell Street when the brewery had given up on it.

Celebrations will be held on March 7. “We are going to invite some of the people who were here on the opening night,” said Trevor.

An anniversary beer festival will be held from March 7 to 11.

The pub was able to take root thanks to Trevor putting in the hours himself and his all-round experience. He was previously at the Rutland Arms at the other side of the city centre.

It’s a case of following a formula, he said. “You keep it looking attractive from the outside and warm, friendly and clean on the inside, and paramount is the quality of the beer.”

With bar manager Lewis Gonda, the Kelham Island Tavern has developed a reputation for its beer, food, folk music and garden, even overcoming the devastation of the floods of June 2007.

Ambitions are more of the same.

“I shall be 57 in a month,” said Trevor. “I’ll be here for a while, but whether it’s another ten years I don’t know.”